Of Chelsea's 22 players who are currently out on loan, one has been deemed 'unsellable' by the club after a stellar Premier League campaign.
Conor Gallagher has been exceptional while out on loan at Crystal Palace this season, contributing four goals and two assists across 10 Premier League outings so far.
With this in mind, plans are already being drawn up for when the young midfielder returns to Stamford Bridge next year.
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According to the Daily Mail, transfer bids were previously turned down for Gallagher last summer, with a firm 'not for sale' tag now being placed on the player following his senior England debut.
They also claim that Newcastle United and Leeds United were keen on a loan deal for the 21-year-old back in the summer, but after insisting on the provision of an 'option to buy' clause, both were rejected by Chelsea.
The plan instead is for Gallagher to return to West London next season, where he will link up with Thomas Tuchel's squad, and attempt to carve out a Chelsea career of his own.
The news comes after the U17 World Cup winner made his England debut on Monday evening against a woeful San Marino side.
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Gallagher came on for the second half as the Three Lions romped to a devastating 10-0 win, with Arsenal's Emile Smith-Rowe also making his England bow on the night.
Chelsea's faith in the goalscoring midfielder represents something of a departure, as in previous years, players who were sent out on loan generally struggled to break into the first team squad upon returning.
However, that policy looks to have changed under Tuchel, who has reintroduced the likes of Ross Barkley and Ruben Loftus-Cheek to his squad following spells away on loan.
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It remains to be seen whether any of the other 21 Chelsea players who are currently out on loan will ever get a similar opportunity to shine at their parent club.
Young stars like Ethan Ampadu, Billy Gilmour and Tino Anjorin are all seeking experience away from Stamford Bridge this season - but none have seemingly reached Gallagher's level so far.
Featured Image Credit:Topics: Chelsea, Thomas Tuchel, Premier League, England, Conor Gallagher, Crystal Palace